University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


The 

Alaska  Indian 
Mythology 


Their 
Legends 
and 
Traditions 


History 
of  the 
Totem   Pole 


Description 
of  a 
Potlatch 


Issued   by  the 

General    Passenger  Department 

pacific  Coast 
Steamship   Company 

JO  Market  Street  San  Francisco,    Cat. 


Along    5,000   Miles 
of      Co  as t      Line 


The  Steamers  of  the 
Pacific  Coast  Steamship 
Company  are  Operated 


Routes  and  Principal  Ports 

* 


Southeastern  Alaska  —  San  Francisco,  Seattle,  Tacoma, 
Port  Tbwnsend,  Victoria,  Vancouver,  Ketchikari,  Wrangel, 
Juneau,  Treadwell's,  Skaguay,  Killisnoo,  Sitka,  Muir 
Glacier. 

Nome  —  San   Francisco,   Seattle,   Tacoma,   Nome. 

British  Columbia-Puget  Sound  —  San  Francisco,  Victoria, 
Port  Townsend,   Seattle,  Tacoma,   Everett,  Whatcom   and 
Vancouver. 
i 

Bellingham  Bay  —  Seattle,  Tacoma,  Everett,  Fairhaven, 
Anacortes,  Whatcom  .•"" 

Southern  California  —  San  Francisco,  I,os  Angeles,  Santa 
Barbara,  San  Diego,  San  Luis  Obispo,  Ventura,  Santa 
Cruz,  Monterey,  San  Simeon,  Cayucos. 

Northern   California  —  San   Francisco  and  Eureka. 

Mexican  —  San  Francisco,  Ensenada,  San  Jose  del  Cabo, 
Mazatlan,  I^a  Paz,  Santa  Rosalia,  Guaymas,  Magdalena 
Bay. 


For  full  information  regarding  sailing  dates,  etc.,  see 
Company's  folder,  which  contains  also  the  best  map  pub 
lished  of  the  Pacific  Coast  from  Mexico  to  Alaska,  including 
the  Coast  of  California,  Mexico,  Oregon,  Washington,  British 
Columbia  and  Alaska,  which  can  be  obtained  free  upon  appli 
cation  at  any  of  the  Company's  agencies. 

The  General  Passenger  Department  of  the  Pacific  Coast 
Steamship  Company  has  issued  a  publication  entitled,  "ALL  THE 
YEAR  ROUND  TOURS,''  handsomely  illustrated  and  descriptive 
of  resorts  and  ocean  tripsKpf  California,  Alaska,  Washington, 
British  Columbia  and  Mexico,  will  be  mailed  to  any  address  on 
receipt  of  Six  CENTS  in  postage  to  cover  cost  of  mailing. 

Address,        C.   D.   D.UNANN, 

General  Passenger  Agent,  Pacific  Coast  Steamship  Co. 
10  MARKET  STREET,  SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 


The  Indian  Mythology 

In  the  beginning  there  was  nothing  but  sky 
and  water ;  in  the  sky,  a  moon.  A  bird  came  out  of 
the  moon  with  a  small  ring  or  moon  in  its  mouth. 
On  coming  to  the  water  it  got  on  the  back  of  a 
large  fish.  There  was  no  earth.  The  fish  got  into 
shallow  water  with  the  bird.  The  bird  dropped  the 
ring  from  its  bill,  when  a  large  toad  came  and 
swallowed  the  ring.  The  toad  soon  became  im 
pregnated,  then  a  child  was  born  from  the  toad. 
It  was  a  girl.  The  bird  took  it  to  feed  it,  and  by 
the  time  it  came  to  maturity,  there  sprung  up  out 
of  the  waters  a  beach  with  thick  woods.  The  bird 
left  the  girl  on  the  beach  and  went  off  into  the 
woods  to  seek  food  for  it,  then  a  bear  came  out  of 
the  woods  and  went  to  the  girl  and  hugged  her, 
and  from  her  the  first  man  was  born.  This  is  the 
ancient  account  or  legend  of  the  creation,  by  the 
Indians.  Consequently  they  consider  themselves 
descended  from  the  bird,  fish,  toad  and  bear.  So 
each  family  takes  one  of  these  as  their  crest. 


WALRUS    SKIN    CANOH 


History  of  the  Totem  Pole 

Legends  and  Traditions  of  Alaska  Indians  — 
Jtlso   Description  of  a  Potlatch 

There  are,  or  were,  four  large 
and  important  tribes  in  Alaska,  the 
names  of  which,  in  the  Tsimshean 
language  are  Kish-poot-wadda,  by 
far  the  most  numerous  hereabouts, 
have  for  symbols  the  fin-back  whale 
in  the  sea,  the  grizzly  bear  on  land, 
the  grouse  in  the  air  and  the  sun  and 
stars.  The  next  clan,  known  as  the 
Canadda,  have  for  symbols  the  frog, 
the  raven,  the  star  fish  and  the  bull 
head.  The  Lacheboo,  another  'dan, 
had  the  heron  and  the  grizzly  bear  for  totems. 
Lackshkeak,  the  eagle,  beaver  and  the  halibut. 

These  creatures,  however,  are  only  regarded  as 
the  visible  representatives  of  the  powerful  and 
mystical,  beings  or  genii  of  Indian  mythology,  and 
as  all  of  one  group  are  said  to  be  of  the  same  kin 
dred  so  all  the  members  of  the  same  class,  whose 
heraldic  symbols  are  the  same,  are  counted  as  blood 
relations  and,  strange  to  say,  this  relationship  holds 
good  should  the  persons  belong  to  different  or  even 
hostile  tribes,  or  speak  a  different  language,  or  be 
located  thousands  of  miles  apart ;  and  this  relation 
ship  is  perpetuated  in  the  face  of  obliterating  cir 
cumstances.  The  Indians  point  back  to  a  remote 
age  when  their  ancestors  lived  in  a  beautiful  land, 
where,  in  a  mysterious  manner,  the  mythical  crea- 


tures,  whose  symbols  they  retain,  revealed  them 
selves  to  the  heads  of  the  families  of  that  day. 

They  relate  the  traditional  story  of  an  over 
whelming  flood  which  came  and  submerged  the 
good  land  and  spread  death  and  destruction  all 
around.  Those  of  the  ancients  who  escaped  in 
canoes  were  drifted  about  and  scattered  in  every 
direction  on  the  face  of  the  waters,  and  where  they 
found  themselves  after  the  flood  had  subsided, 
there  they  located  and  staked  out  their  pre-emption 
claims  and  formed  new  tribal  associations. 

Thus  it  was  that  persons  related  by  blood  be 
came  widely  severed  from  each  other.  Neverthe 
less  they  retained  and  clung  to  the  symbols  which 
had  distinguished  them  and  their  respective  fam 
ilies  before  the  flood.  Hence  the  crests  have  con 
tinued  to  mark  the  offspring  of  the  original  foun 
ders  of  each  family. 

It  may  interest  our 
readers  to  know  to  what 
practical  uses  the  natives 
apply  their  crests. 

First — Crests  subdivide 
tribes  into  social  clans,  and 
a  union  of  crests  is  a  closer 
bond  than  a  tribal  union. 

Second — It  is  the  am 
bition  of  all  leading  mem 
bers  of  each  clan  in  the  sev 
eral  tribes  to  represent  their  rank  by  carving  or 
painting  their  heraldic  symbols  on  all  their  be 
longings,  not  omitting  their  household  utensils, 
and  on  the  death  of  the  head  of  a  family  a  totem 


IDOL 


pole  was  erected  in  front  of  his  house 
by  his  successor,  on  which  is  carved  or 
painted  more  or  less  elaborately,  the 
symbolic  creatures  of  his  clan. 

Third— The  crests  define  the  bonds 
of  consanguinity  and  persons  having 
the  same  crests  are  forbidden  to  inter 
marry;  that  is,  a  frog  cannot  marry  a 
frog,  nor  a  whale,  a  whale,  but  a  frog 
may  marry  a  wolf  and  a  whale  marry 
an  eagle. 

Fourth— All  the  children  take  the 
mother's  crest  and  are  incorporated  as 
members  of  the  mother's  family,  nor 
do    they    designate    or    regard    their 
father's  family  as  their  relations,  and 
therefore  an  Indian's  heir  or  successor 
SPEAK      is  not  his  own  son,  but  his  sister's  son, 
and  in  case  a  woman  is  married  into  a 
distant  tribe  away  from  her  relations,  the  offspring 
of  such  union,  when  grown  up,  will  leave  their 
parents  and  go  to  their  mother's  tribe. 

Fifth — The  clan  relationship  also  regulates 
all  feasting.  A  native  invites  the  members  of  his 
own  crest  to  a  feast,  they  being  regarded  as  his 
blood  relations  are  always  welcome  as  guests;  but 
at  feasts,  which  are  only  given  for  display,  all  the 
clansmen  within  reasonable  distance,  are  expected 
to  contribute  of  their  means  and  their  services 
gratuitously  to  make  the  feast  a  success,  for  on  the 
fame  of  the  feast  hangs  the  honor  of  the  clan. 

Sixth — This  social  brotherhood  has  much  to 
do  with  promoting  hospitality  among  the  Indians. 


A  stranger,  with  or  without  his  family,  in  visiting 
an  Indian  village  need  be  at  no  loss  for  shelter; 
he  at  once  goes  to  the  house  belonging  to  one  of  his 
crest,  which  he  can  easily  distinguish  by  the  totem 
pole  in  front  of  it.  There  he  is  sure  of  a  hearty 
welcome  and  will  be  received  as  a  brother  and 
treated  and  trusted  as  such. 

These  relations  tend  to  foster  peace  and  dis 
courage  wars,  and  though  the  tribes  in 
Alaska  are  civilized,  or  nearly  so,  they 
retain  their  crest  distinctions. 

The  Potlatch  of  Alaska 

Jl  Barbaric  and  "Picturesque  Ceremony 

Southeastern  Alaska  is  a  treasure 
house  of  the  picturesque,  a  mine  for 
the  camera  and  the  notebook.  Besides 
gold  mines  and  glaciers  and  timber- 
clad  islands,  there  are  the  quaintly 
carved  totems  and  the  quainter  people 
who  carved  them,  the  Tlingits,  whose 
strange  customs  and  arts  and  fondness 
for  the  water  have  earned  for  them  the 
appellation  of  the  Venetians  of  Amer 
ica.  And  strange  as  any  Oriental  feast, 
with  all  the  accompaniments  of  noise 
and  superstitious  rite,  is  the  time-hon 
ored  potlatch.  The  Indians  are  fast 
passing,  and  so  is  the  potlatch.  A  pot- 
latch — have  you  ever  attended  one? 
It's  a  sight  worth  traveling  far  to  see — 
one  never  to  be  defaced  from  memory's 

HAKPOON 


The  amount  of  a  man's  wealth  is 
estimated  by  the  size  of  his  potlatch 
and  the  manner  in  which  he  extends  his 
hospitality.  His  aim  is  to  give  away 
more  than  does  his  neighbor.  "Pot- 
latch"  is  a  Chinook  word  for  gift. 
Their  gifts  are  principally  of  blankets, 
which  are  distributed  by  the  hundred. 
The  main  object  of  the  potlatch  is  the 
benefit  of  the  dead.  The  Indian  be 
lieves  that  food  and  raiment  given  away 
is  the  same  as  given  to  the  dead,  and 
that  if  the  feast  is  not  held  the  dead 
will  go  naked  and  hungry  throughout  eternity. 

Invitations  to  the  feast  are  issued  many  days 
prior  to  the  entertainment  and,  that  those  invited 
should  be  reminded  as  the  hour  draws  near,  a  mes 
senger  is  sent  forth  vigorously  ringing  a  bell. 
About  the  time  the  people  commence  to  assemble, 
the  loud  boom  of  cannon  is  heard ;  as  guests  go  to 
the  feast  house,  with  faces  painted  in  war-like 
fashion,  dressed  in  their  hideous  attire,  consisting 
of  gaudily  colored  blankets  or  other  Indian  finery, 
it  gives  one  the  impression  of  being  among  a  sav 
age  and  warlike  people.  Each  person  carries  a 
large  pan  or  earthen  bowl  and  a  cup  for  coffee. 
The  food,  usually,  consists  of  pilot  bread,  apples, 
coffee  and  candy,  which  are  passed  around  to  each 
guest,  all  seated  on  the  floor.  After  the  feast  the 


THROWING   STICK   FOR   SKA    HUNTING 


large  bowl  of  each  guest  is  filled  to  take  home. 
Each  meal  lasts  about  three  hours,  during  which 
time  they  converse,  tell  stories  and  give  toasts, 
and  loudly  the  speaker  is  cheered.  The  feast  is 
usually  given  in  the  daytime,  with  a  dance  in  the 
evening,  sometimes  continuing  until  early  morn 
ing. 

By  giving  away  his  property  at  the  potlatch 
the  host  hopes  also  to  attain  a  reputation  for  lib 
erality  and  to  increase  his  chance  of  one  day  becom 
ing  a  chief.  Each  guest  is  remembered  according 
to  his  own  distribution  in  the  past  or  those  which  he 
is  expected  to  make  in  the  future. 

Following  the  feast  comes  the  distribution  of 
all  sorts  of  gifts — rolls  of  cotton,  muslin,  flannel 
.and  quantities  of  blankets.  These  blankets,  repre 
senting  much  of  the  tangible  wealth  of  the  host,  in 
times  past  have  been  distributed  with  lavish  reck 
lessness.  At  many  potlatches  those  which  were  not 
carried  away  were  piled  high  upon  the  blazing  fire 
and  burned.  Others  were  torn  into  strips,  wrapped 
about  the  bodies  of  the  dancers  and  otherwise  de 
stroyed. 

A  few  years  ago  it  was  not  unusual  to  see  gar 
ments  made  from  the  different 
pieces  of  cloth,  of  various  col 
ors  and  qualities,  which  were 
received  at  the  potlatch,  re 
minding  one  of  "the  coat  of 
many  colors."  When  the  big 
drum,  or  "geough,"  vigorously 
beats  out  its  monotonous  tones, 
the  Indians  come  forth  from  NATIVE  BOOTS 


their  homes  to  the  dance  house,  with  hid 
eously  painted  faces  and  gorgeous  attire. 
The  faces  of  the  dancers  are  painted  in 
black  and  red  streaks.  Their  headgear 
is  a  marked  feature  of  their  grotesque 
attire.  It  is  often  trimmed  with  ermine 
skins,  pending  from  the  band,  nearly 
covering  the  head  and  face  and  flying  in 
every  direction  when  in  motion,  with  a 
girdle  of  sealion's  whiskers  about  the  top. 
On  one  occasion  the  hollow  in  the  crown 
of  the  headgear  was  filled  with  swan's 
down  and  feathers,  which  were  showered 
about  the  room  on  the  guests,  while  danc 
ing,  as  blessings.  Each  one  dresses  as 
gorgeously  as  he  can  afford,  in  robes, 
furs,  blankets,  including  any  article  of 
showy  dress. 

SLIXG  The   peculiar  costumes,   fierce   ges 

tures  and  monotonous  singing  of  the  Indians 
form  a  scene  of  barbaric  splendor.  Each  holds  in 
his  hand  a  rattle  which  he  continually  shakes  to 
ward  off  the  evil  spirit.  The  dancing  continues 
until  it  seems  as  if  they  must  drop  from  exhaus 
tion.  They  keep  time  to  the  drum  with  violent 
jerks,  gestures  and  motions  of  the  body,  these  pecu 
liar  attitudes  being  struck  in  concert,  similar  to  a 
class  of  calisthenics,  although  there  may  be  fifty 
or  more  persons  dancing  at  the  same  time.  The 
whole  assembly  joins  in  the  chanting. 

Louder  and  more  exciting  the  chanting  be 
comes;  swifter  the  motion  of  the  dancers,  and 
faster  the  oil  is  poured  upon  the  burning  heap  of 

8 


logs.  With  frenzied  yells  and  whoops,  they  leap 
into  the  air  and  then  suddenly  crouch  on  the  floor. 
Their  movements  become  more  convulsive,  until 
they  become  hoarse  and  exhausted,  then  suddenly 
stop  and  face  the  host,  who  makes  a  speech.  The 
singing  ceases  and  all  eyes  are  directed  toward  the 
speaker,  as  the  traditions  and  history  of  the  tribe 
are  rehearsed.  The  beating  of  the  drum  and  pound 
ing  on  the  floor  with  the  noise  of  the  dancing  are 
deafening.  During  these  entertainments  all  neigh 
boring  tribes  are  invited.  They  come  in  large 
canoes,  fifty  or  sixty  feet  long,  and  after  the  pot- 
latch  is  over  they  load  the  craft  to  the  guards  with 
the  treasures  that  their  superstitious  feasting  has 
brought  to  them. 

Strangely  curious  and  fascinating  are  these 
carnivals  of  a  passing  barbarism.  The  blazing 
fires  without  the  dance  house,  the  reckless  revelry, 
the  wasteful  extravagance  of  things  to  eat  and 
things  to  wear,  the  beating  of  the  drum  and  the 
dancing,  all  combine  to  form  a  scene  of  novel 
splendor. 

There's  an  echo  of  early  Christian  teaching 
about  the  potlatch — this  giving  away  "all  that  thou 
hast" — and  many  fanatical  and  generous  Indians 
have  ruined  themselves  and  those  dependent  upon 


NATIVE    PLOW 


them  by  their  reckless  potlatch  prodigality.  The 
missionaries  have  curbed  their  recklessness  some 
what.  Gifts  at  the  average  potlatch  of  today  are 
not  as  many  nor  as  abundant  as  of  yore,  but  the 
ceremonial  is  much  the  same,  the  same  costuming 
and  dancing,  the  same  foregathering  about  the  fire 
in  the  feast  house,  the  same  barbaric  incidents  that 
make  the  event  one  of  novel  interest  in  this  work 
aday  world,  when  travelers  are  apt  to  complain  of 
naught  new  under  the  rising  sun. 
Go  see  a  potlatch ! 


TOTEM 


10 


Names  of  Indian  Months 

The  Haida  months  are : 

"Ketas,"  September,  this  month  they  got  the 
cedar  bark. 

"Kalk  Kungas,"  October,  ice  month. 

"Cha  Kungas,"  November,  the  bears  paw  the 
ground  for  roots. 

"Gwougrangas,"  December,  too  cold  to  sit  on 
the  beach  this  month. 

"Lthkither  Kungas,"  January,  goose  moon. 

"Tan  Kungas,"  February,  the  bears  begin  to 
come  out  of  their  holes. 

"Nyhitgaas,"  March,  laughing  goose  moon. 

"Whitgaas,"  April,  foreign  goose  moon. 

"Tahalte  Kungas,"  May,  the  month  of  flowers. 

"Hanskite  Kungas/7  June,  the  berries  begin 
to  ripen  this  month. 

"Hanahmg  Kungas,"  July,  month  in  which 
the  berries  are  ripe. 

"Chin  Kungas,"  August,  salmon  month. 

"Kishalish  Kungas,"  moon  in  which  they 
smoke  their  salmon. 

They  always  smoke  their  salmon  between  July 
and  October. 


SKINNING  KNIFE 


11 


Barnes  of  Tribes 


Chocklolat 

Mowezet 

Kitkatlahs 

Metlakatlahs 

Machelet 

Klaskina 

Bella  Bella 

Hamatsa 

Haida 

Soomas 

Clayoquot 

Mockstocies 

Nahwittis 

Chilcotin 

Quatsino 

Koskimo 

Bella  Coola 

Tooquot 

Nit  Nat 

Yale 


Cloochpitch 

Choocklecit 

Hih  Eticit 

Nootka 

Salish 

Hesquoit 

Thompsons 

Tlingit 

Songhees 

Port  Douglas 

Shuswaps 

Seechelt 

Tlaiamens 

Squamish 

Loomis 

Cowichans 

Tsimshean 

Lillooet 

Kyoquot 

Massett 


FAMILY    CANOE 


12 


Pacific    Coast  Steamship    Go. 

k  TICKET  AGENTS 

f     G.  W.  HALLOCK,  City  Pass,  and  Ticket  Agt. 
SAN  FRANCISCO,     I         4  New  Montgomery  St.,  (Palace'  Hotel). 
CAL.  W.  L.  JOHNSTONE,  10  Market  Street. 

;     T.  E.  BREE,  Broadway  Wharf  (Piem). 

SANTA  CRUZ,  CAL. G.  I,.  ANDERSON,  689  Pacific  Avenue 

MONTEREY,  CAL A,  NORTON,  at  Wharf 

SAN  LUIS  OBISPO,  CAL .PACIFIC  COAST  RAILWAY 

emu-™  D*DD«Dji    o  it  i        j"    P-  B.  SMITH,  627  State  St.  and  Wharf 
SANTA  BARBARA,  CAL.     j  STEARNS     WHARF     Co.,    at   Wharf 

VENTURA,  CAL. .THE  BARTLETT  Co.,  706  W.  Main  Street 

f  W.  PARRIS,  General  Agent 

LOS  ANGELES,  CAL.  «{  W.  M.  CLINE,  Traveling  Passenger  and 
L  •  Freight  Agent,  328  South  Spring  St. 

!J.    DON   DUNANN,    City    Passenger   and 
Ticket  Agent,  N.  W.   Cor.   Fifth  and 
D    Streets. 
S.  T.  JOHNSON,  Wharf,  foot  of  Fifth  St. 
f     G.  R.  GEORGESON, 

EUREKA,  CAL.     •{  City  Ticket  Agent,  413  Third  Street 

'  [_     W.  E.  TUFT,  at  Wharf 

PORTLAND,  OR CHAS.  H.  GLEIM,  249  Washington  Street 

PORT  TOWNSEND,  WASH H.  I,.  TIBBALS,  JR.,  Union  Wharf 

VICTORIA,  B.  C.    R.  P.  RITHET  &  Co.,  61  and  63  Wharf  Street 

\/Aiupnii\/cp    o    r      f     EVANS.  COLEMAN  &  EVANS, 
VANLUUVEK,  B.   t.     |  407  Granville  Street  and  at  Wharf 

f     GEO.   W.  ANDREWS,  North- Western  Passenger 
__ATT,  c  Agent,  113  James  Street 

UIACU         •{      F-  B-  HAZIER,  City  Passenger  and  Ticket  Agent, 

WA&H.  113  James  Street 

t     M.   TALBOT,   Ocean  Dock 

TACOMA,  WASH ;. . ..  .F.  W.  CARLETON,  907  Pacific  Avenue 

EVERETT,  WASH ALEX.  G.  PASCHKE 

WHATCOM,  WASH C.  E.  CLINE,  132  Holly  Street 

FAIRHAVEN,  WASH J.  I/-  I.INDLEY 

ANACORTES,  WASH I,.  A.  BISHOP 

OLYMPIA,  WASH J.  C.  PERCIVAL,  Percival's  Dock 

KETCHIKAN,  ALASKA H.  S.  'REYNOLDS 

WRANGEL,  ALASKA -JOBERT  REED 

JUNEAU,  ALASKA. A."S.  DAUTRICK 

SKAGUAY,  ALASKA I,.  M.  WEST,  2nd  Ave.  and  Broadway 

SITKA,  ALASKA EDWARD  DE  -GROFF 

ENSENADA,   MEX .ANDONAEGUimORMART 

MAZATLAN,  MEX CAREAGA  HERMA^OS  Y  CIA 

ALTATA,  MEX FEDERICO  DEL  Rio 

LA  PAZ,  MEX J.  VIOSCA 

SANTA  ROSALIA,  MEX Compagnie  du  Boleo,  W.  W.  ROSE 

SAN  JOSE  DEL  CABO,  MEX EDUARDO  REZA 

GUAYMAS.  MEX W.  IBERRI  E  HIJOS 

Alaska  excursion  tickets  can  be  purchased  at  most  of  the 
coupon  ticket  offices  of  the  principal  railroads  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada  —  Great  Northern,  Northern  Pacific  and 
Canadian  Pacific  Railways,  Southern  Pacific  Company,  The 
Oregon  Railway  and  Navigation,  Union  Pacific  System,  etc. 
also  at  the  various  tourist  offices  of  Raymond  &  Whitcomb, 
Thos.  Cook  &  Sons,  Reau  Campbell,  Chas.  Gates,  etc. 

C.   D.  DUNANN,  General  Passenger  Agent, 

10  MARKET  ST.,  SAN  FRANCISCO 


